Checkerboard



Patented Apr. 16, 1946 Sherman H. Fox,

Silver City, N. Mex., assignor of one-eighth to Clyde Bennett, Silver-City,

N. Mex.

Application August 28, 1943, SerialNo. 00,407

5 Claims. (c1.2'1s-'-1a5) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in checker boards, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a, device of this character comprising novel means for storing the playing pieces I I or men when the game is not being used.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an improved checker board of the aforementioned character which embodies unique means for ejecting the pieces from the storage chambers or compartments and for keeping the scoreby games.

Other objects ofthe invention are to provide an improved checker board of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, attractive in appearance, and which maybe manufactured at low cost. I

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein? Figure 1 is a top plan view of a checker board constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the board, taken substantially on the line 2- 2'of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section through one side portion of the board, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 4- -4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in cross section, taken substantially on the line B--6 of Figure 1 v Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in cross section through one of the checker-receiving chambers or compartments.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises vertically spaced upper and lower panels I and 2, respectively, of suitable material; Marginal walls .3, also of any suitable material, are provided between the panels I and 2. Also mounted between the panels I and 2 are inner walls 4 which extend in spaced parallelism to the outer walls 3.

The members I, 2, 3 and 4 define longitudinal side chambers or compartments 5 for the recepgrooves or Pointers or indicators tion of the usual game pieces when the board is notin use. The members 2, 3 and 4 further define open transverse troughs 6 at the ends of the board which communicata'at one end, with the chambers S'for slidably receiving the pieces therefrom orfor directing said pieces thereinto. Toward this end, the board comprises rounded corner portions 1 to facilitate the movement of the pieces into and out of the chambers 5. The troughs Ii also accommodate the pieces as they are removed from the board during the playing of the game. The upper panel I is cutaway to permit access to the troughs 6; I

Verticallyswinging closures 8 are mounted in the end portions of the troughs 6 which communicate with the chambers 5 for closing said chambers and retaining the pieces therein. When the closuresB are in closed position, the free end portions thereof are engaged in vertical channels 9 which are provided therefor in the'adjacent portions of the outer walls 3.

The other end' portions of the troughs Bare curved upwardly, as at II) (see Fig.6) to facilitate removing the pieces therefrom. The upper panel I has formed in its side portions slots II which communicate with the chambers 5. Columns I2 of figures are provided adjacent the slots I I. The

upper surface of the panel I is further providedwith a playing'field I3 comprising the usual arrangement of squares.

I5 are slidable on the marginal sideportions of the panel I and cooperable with the numerals I 2 for keeping the score as the games are played. Integral stems or the like I9 which depend from the indicators I6 are operable in the slots I I. The stems or the like I9 are polygonal in cross section to prevent rotation in the slots II. The stems I9 have formed therein bores 20 which slidably receive bolts I5. Threadedly mounted on the lower end portions of the bolts I5 are substantially U-shaped ejectors I4 which are operable in the chambers 5 for pushing the checkers therefrom. The upper portions of the bores 20 are counterbored or enlarged to of the chambers which are remote from the respective troughs 6 and the pieces, which are dealgnated by reference numeral I3 in Figure 3 of the drawings, are stored in said chambers 5. When the board is to be used, the closures 8 are swung upwardly to open position and the bolts l5 are pressed downwardly against the tension of the coil springs I! sufficiently to disengageithe ejectors 14 from the panel I. The ejectors 14 may now be readily moved toward the open ends of the chambers 5 for forcing the pieces l8 from said chambers into the troughs 6 from which they may be readily removed to be placed ,on the playing field l3 of the board. As thepiec'es l8 are removed from the board during the playing of the game, said pieces may be conveniently kept in the troughs 6. Ejection of the pieces 18' from the chambers 5 brings the indicators It to the ,zero ends of the columns of numerals l2. As the games are completed, the indicators 16 are moved in the opposite direction along the columns of numerals 12 for keeping the score of the players by games. When the players are through, the pieces are placed in the troughs 6 and the closures '8 are again raised to open position. The lines of pieces may then be expeditiously slid back into the" chambers 5, the rounded corner portions 1 facilitating this operaiton. Of course, before the playing pieces are returned to the chambers 5, the ejectors M are returned to the closed end portions of said chambers. The closures 8 are then swung downwardly to closed position in the grooves 9 for retaining the pieces in the chambers 5.

It is believed that the many advantages of a checker board constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the board ma comprise a pair of hingedly connected half-sections adapted to be folded compactly when the device is not in use. I

What is claimed is:

1. A game board comprising vertically spaced upper and lower rectangular panels, the upper panel being of the same width as but shorter than the lower panel, spaced inner and outer Walls between and permanently connecting the panels and defining, in conjunction therewith, covered chambers along the sides of the board for the storage of playing pieces and open-top troughs along the ends of the board communieating with the respective chambers for receiving the pieces therefrom, and manually operable ejectors movable substantially from end to end of the chambers for ejecting the pieces from the chambers into the respective troughs, said chambers accommodating the playing pieces so that they are in non-superimposed relation when the board is horizontally disposed, whereby said playing pieces may be moved simultaneously by and parallel with the ejectors.

2. A checker board comprising vertically spaced upper and lower rectangular panels, spaced walls 7 between and permanently connecting the panels for providing covered chambers along the sides of the board for the storage of playing pieces and open-top troughs along the ends of the board communicating with the respective chambers for receiving the pieces therefrom, the upper panel having elongated slots therein parallel with and communicating with the chambers and extending substantially from end to end of the latter, and manually operable ejectors operable in the slots for ejecting the pieces from the chambers into the respective troughs, said chambers accommodating the playing pieces in non-superimposed relation when the board is horizontally disposed, whereby said playing pieces are movable simultaneously by and parallel with the ejectors.

3. A checker board comprising vertically spaced upper and lower rectangular panels, spaced walls between and permanently connecting the panels and providing covered chambers along the sides of the board for the storage of playing pieces, and open-top troughs along the ends of the board communicating with the respective chambers for the reception of the playing pieces therefrom, the upper panel further having slots therein communicating with the chambers and extending substantially from end to. end of the latter, members slidable on the upper panel, stems depending from said members and operable in the slots, bolts slidable inthe stems, ejectors mounted on the bolts and operable in the chambers for ejecting the playing pieces therefrom into the respective troughs, said chambers accommodating the playing pieces in non-superimposed relation when the board is horizontally disposed, whereby said playing pieces are movable simultaneously by and parallel with the ejectors, and coil springs in the stems engaged with the bolts for frictionally engaging the ejectors with the upper panel.

4, Achecker board comprising vertically spaced upper and lower rectangular panels, inner and outer walls between and permanently connecting the panels and defining covered elongated chambers along the sides of the board for the storage of playing pieces, and open-top troughs along the ends of the board and communicating" with the respective chambers for receiving the pieces therefrom, closures in the troughs for the chambers, the upper panel having slots therein paralleling and extending substantially from end to end of the chambers and communicating therewith, and manually operable ejectors slidable in the slots for ejecting the pieces from the chambers into the troughs, said chambers accommodating the playing pieces in non-superimposed relation when the board is horizontally disposed, whereby said playing pieces may be moved simultaneously by and parallel with the ejectors.

5. A checker board provided along opposite sides with covered storage chambers respectively adapted for reception, in a line, of the checkers to be used by opposing players, said board being further provided along opposite ends with open- SHERMAN H. FOX, 

